KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 27 Aug) – An inmate accused of acts of lasciviousness against a minor committed suicide inside the jail here by hanging himself dawn on Tuesday.
Authorities said they found no foul play in the demise of Jammel Ayon Fuerte, 47, when his body was found hanging inside the comfort room around 5:30 a.m.
Lt. Col. Ramel Hojilla, city police director, said Fuerte’s severe depression could have led him to end his life.
The police chief said that Fuerte, a resident of Barangay Singao here, used part of his pants and bed sheet in hanging himself.
Hojilla said one of Fuerte’s companions inside the cell saw him already dead hanging inside the comfort room around 5:30 a.m., but believed that the suicide took place around 3 a.m.
Fuerte was about to be charged on Tuesday for violating a provision of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
He was accused of sexually harassing a minor girl in his village. It was the girl’s parents who filed the complaint against Fuerte.
“Fuerte, days before he committed suicide, was found heavily laden and isolated himself by not talking to anyone,” said Hojilla.
“With that, we can safely say there was no foul play in Fuerte’s death,” he added. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)